School-desk



O. B. TOWLE.

$011001, DESK.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan.- 28, 1896.

r/ wwl (No Model.)

3 SheetsSheet 2. C. B. TOWLE.

SCHOOL DESK.

o. 553,631. Patented Jan. 28, 1896.

ANDREW HGRAHAM PHOTO-LUNG WASHINETOILDC.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet-3. C. B. TOWLE.

SCHOOL DESK. 7

N0. 553;631. Patented Jan. 28, 1896.

a a m 0 a w W V V Lr 1 WI We 7 spective view of the rear shoe.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES BRUCE TOVLE, OF VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA.

SCHOOL-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,631, dated January28, 1896.

Application filed May 9, 1895. Serial No. 548,768. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES BRUcE TowLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vallejo,county of Solano, State of California,have inventedan Improvement in School-Desks; and I hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to this class of adjustable school-desks, and itconsists in certain improvements which I shall hereinafter fullydescribe and specifically claim.

The general objects of my invention are to increase the capacityof thedesk for affording comfort to the pupil and to provide for economy inthe manufacture of the desk.

Other objects are to detachably fix the desk to the floor so that itwill be perfectly stable while in use and yet may be readily removed bythe janitor; to avoid noise in the manipulation of both the seat and thesliding top, and to avoid any loose parts which may be taken from thedesk.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanationof my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my desk. Fig. 2 is adetail perspective of the upper portion of one side, the sliding topbeing broken to showhow it is mounted. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionshowing the mounting of the sliding top and the fitting of the permanenttop. Fig. a is a perspective view showing the fitting together of theseat-irons and seat-pieces, and also the hinging and locking of saidirons to and in the clevises or brackets c. Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof the rear shoe. Fig. 6 is a section of the same at right angles to theline of the screws of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a per- Fig. Sis a section ofsame in the line of the screws of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is avertical sectionshowing the sliding connection of the cross-piece D and the support Ewith the front B of the desk. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section showingthe socketed formation of the upper ends of the grooves a in the sidesof the desk.

A are the sides of the desk. B is the front. C is the seat connected tothe sides, by means of vertically-adjustable brackets or clevises c, towhich the seat is hinged, whereby it may be dropped to a horizontalposition for use or raised to an approximately vertical position to lieagainst the front of the desk out of the way. The construction of theseseat brackets or clevises and the manner in which they are renderedadjustable need not be herein specifically explained, as they form nopart of my present improvements.

D is the cross-piece which helps to shape the seat and fills in aportion of the space between the seat and the desk-front. Thiscrosspiece has metallic arms d which extend down into the front of theclevises and form a lock for them. They also form a bearing againstwhich the seat-irons bear to hold the seat in a horizontal position.These features are substan tially similar to those heretofore disclosedin my prior patent, No. 403,795, of May 21, 1889. The cross-piece washeretofore however, entirely separate, and could be removed from thedesk, and this was a fact which would necessarily become known, as ithad to be lifted out of place to unlock the brackets or clevises,whereby the latter could be adjusted. My improvement in this respectconsists in providing for the permanent attachment of this cross-pieceto the desk, so that it cannot needlessly be removed. I

This improvement, though it may be carried out by any suitable slidingconnection, is best effected by providing the ends of the cross-piece Dwith slides d fitted over the ends of the front 13 of the desk, saidslides having within them sprin g-controlled catches d which engageautomatically with sockets b in the ends of the front B. lVith thisconstruction whenever it is necessary to lift the cross-piece from itsposition its slides will travel up the ends of the front piece, holdingthe cross-piece to it, and the spring-catches will hold it in anyelevated position while the adjustment of the seat is being effected.Then the cross-piece can be lowered again to its original position; butin this manipulation, it will be seen, the cross-piece remains connectedwith the desk through its slides, which are fitted to the front.

Another improvement consists in the adjustable rest or support for theback of the pupil. This consists of -a suitably rounded or fashionedstrip E, extending horizontally the length of the front 13, and securedto said front in such a manner that it may be readily raised and loweredto conform to the desired position and afford the necessary comfort tothe back of each pupil. This support E, in connection with the curvedcross-piece D below and rounded top of the front piece above, makes asupport to fit the back of any pupil. The smaller the pupil the higherthe seat will be raised to bring his arms in proper position over thesliding top, and the larger (longer bodied) the pupil the lower the seatwill be placed for the same purpose, so that the combination of curvedlock-piece below, the smallof-back support above that, and the roundedupper part of straight back still above will make a perfectly-fittingsupport for every p upil who may occupy the seat and desk. Theshort-bodied pupil has a back-support just high enough for him, and nottoo high, and the long-bodied pupil has one high enough for him, and nottoo low nor too high. The connection of this rest or support with thefront B, enabling it to be moved up and down, may be of any suitablecharacter.

I have here shown as the best means the end slides 6, having within themspring-controlled catches e, adapted to engage automaticall y thesockets b in the ends of the front piece.

1 is the sliding top of the desk, and G is the permanent top below thesliding top. The sliding top has grooved cleats f, which engage andslide on the flanged tops a of the sides of the desk. In the tops ofsaid sides are formed grooves a, in which spring-controlled catches f onthe inner surfaces of the slidecleats fare adapted to play freely and tobe limited by the ends of said grooves, which thus form stops. Theforward stops or ends are so located that when the spring-controlledcatches come in contact with them they limit the forward movement of thesliding top, and this limit takes place just before the edge of said topreaches the front, so that no noise results from the closing of thesliding top, as would be the case if it were slammed up against thefront. The forward ends of grooves a. are in the form of sockets, thelower wall of which is just high enough to hold the catch, except wherea little force is applied. They thus hold the sliding top in positionjust enough to prevent its sliding downward unless pulled with somelittle force. Thesliding top slants considerably toward the pupil toaccommodate its surface to his arms when holding a book or when writing.This slant is much more than in other school-desks; but I find thatafter some use these sliding tops move downward very easily, so that astep 011 the floor or a touch causes them to slide a few inches, andthus leave the books, papers, &c., exposed when the janitor is sweeping;but by the socketed stop in the upper end of the grooves a thespring-catch will be easily pushed over it when moved upward,'but willrequire a little pull on the sliding top to force the catches over thepartial stops, so that the top may be brought to the person seated. Thusthe sliding top will remain closed when not wanted in any otherposition. In the grooves a the catches do not touch anywhere, so theywill not cause anynoise at any point.

The sliding top and the front remain separated by a small space, whichis covered by a bead b on the back of said front. The lower ends ofgrooves a are in a position to limit the projection of the sliding toptoward the scholar and prevent it from being drawn completely from itsseat.

In the furtherance of the object to economize in themanufacture of thedesk I have avoided the use of screws to a great extent, so that verylittle machine-work need be made upon the castings or holes made in thewoodwork. This object I have accomplished by uniting the metal with thewood in such a way as to avoid the use of screws and still give a securefastening.

Referring now to the irons H which support the seat, these irons areformed near one edge with a shoulder or ledge h on each side and alongthe edge with lugs h projecting at right angles therefrom.

In the bottom of the seat-pieces are made T-shaped grooves c. The leg ofthe groove is deep enough to receive the edge of the seatiron up to theledge or shoulder h, while the arms of the grooves receive the lugs h ofsaid iron. In such connections as are possible the irons are fitted tothese grooves by slipping them in the ends thereof, but where notpossible, as where the grooves do not extend to the edges of the wood,enlargements c are made leading into the arms, said grooves and saidenlargements being sufficient to receive the lugs 72/ on the edges ofthe irons, so that said lugs may find a path down into their seats, andthen the irons or the wood may be driven along to carry the lugs out ofalignment with said enlargements, thereby fastening the irons to thewood. In order to cover these enlargements, flanges 7L are made upon theshoulders h about opposite where the enlargem cuts will lie when theparts are driven to place. Precisely the same connection is formedbetween the sides A and the front piece B, and as they are identical Ineed not describe the details of the latter connection.

The permanent top G is fitted in grooves or channels a in the sides A,but instead of being screwed therein: in any place, they are fullysecured by lips a cast upon the lower walls of said channels or grooves,said lips fitting in grooves in the permanent top.

The top is fitted to the channels before the front is placed on, and isthen driven along the channels until its grooves tightly engage thesecast securing-lips.

In order to prevent the noise which would naturally follow the droppingof the seats, thereby causing the contact of the seat-irons with thestops in their brackets or clevises, I make the rear lower portions ofsaid seatirons somewhat thickenedor wedge-shaped,

as shown at 71., so that as these thickened portions pass in between thewalls of the brackets or clevises the seat will have its downward speedgradually and in fact almost wholly slackened or arrested before itreaches its limit, and when it does reach it, it will be gently andwithout noise.

In order to fasten the desks to the floor, so that they cannot beneedlessly moved, but at the same time can be removed with a purpose, Ihave the following connections: I is a casting forming one of the frontshoes of the desk. It is entirely independent of the feet of the deskand it is cast with a socketi on each side adapted to fit under the headof a permanently and previously-located screw in the floor. It is alsocast with a central aperture 2", which is bounded above on its frontwall by a raised shoulder 1' and has underneath said front wall a recessThe foot of the side of the desk is provided with a proj ecting toe aThis toe passes down through the opening z" of the shoe and fits in therecess under the front thereof, while the front of the foot bearsagainst the shoulder i of the shoe.

J is one of the shoes for the 'back feet of the desk. This is a castingformed with side sockets j for fitting under the heads of the permanentscrews; and it is cast with a central opeuin g 3', one side wall ofwhich is bounded by a raised shoulder 7' and the other side wall isbounded by another raised shoulder 7' on top, and underneath it isprovided with a recess 9' The inner side of the rear feet of the desk isprovided with a projecting flange a which passes through the opening inthe shoe and enters the recess 3' while the side of the foot bearsagainst the shoulder 7' Now, between the other shoulder 7' and theoutside of the foot asmall wedge, such as K, of wood or iron, is driven,thereby pressing the foot firmly over into the shoe and causing theengagement of the flange d with the recess under the shoe to be apermanent one. hen this is effected, the front feet are also held intheir shoes, and as long as the wedges remain in place the desk issecured to the shoes. The wedges are covered out of sight and heldsecure in place by a shoulder a cast on the outer side of each rearfoot, and they cannot be easily removed by pupils. To remove them, allthat has to be done is to drive the wedges out, whereupon the back feetmay be lifted from the shoes and then the front feet may be easilyremoved.

L is the foot-rest, extending between the lower portion of the sides ofthe desk. This foot-rest is a removable one and may be placed below inposition, when in use, and readily removed and fixed in a positionhigher up, out of the way, so that the janitor may sweep withoutinterference.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a school desk, the combination of the seat having the seat irons,the clevises or brackets to which the seat irons are hinged,

'the cross piece having the arms extending down into the clevises, thefront piece. of the desk, and a sliding permanent connection be tweenthe cross piece and the front piece comprising catches on one pieceadapted to engage the other piece whereby the crosspiece may be raisedand lowered on the front piece and remain with it.

2. In a school desk, the combination of the seat having the seat irons,the clevises or brackets to which the seat irons are hinged, the crosspiece having the arms extending down into the clevises, the front pieceof the desk and a connection between the cross piece and the front piececonsisting of the end slides of the cross piece having thespringcontrolled catches, and the sockets in the ends of the frontpiece.

3. In a school desk having a seat, the back of which is formed by thefront of the desk to which the seat is attached, a back piece Verticallyadjustable over said front, and having end slides embracing the ends ofthe front, and spring-actuated catches in said end slides adapted toengage sockets in the ends of the front piece for locking the back piecein its adjusted position.

4. In a school desk having a seat, the back of which is formed by thefront of the desk to which the seat is attached, a vertically adjustable back rest or support secured to the front of the desk, and meansfor effecting its adjustment consisting of the end slides of saidsupport or rest, having the spring-controlled catches, and the socketsin the ends of the front piece of the desk.

5. In a school desk and in combination with the seat, and the deskfront, having a rounded upper edge, the vertically adjustablecrosspiece, and the vertically adjustable rest or support E, said crosspiece and rest or support having end slides embracing the ends of thedesk front and means comprising spring-actuated catches in the slidesand sockets in the ends of the desk front for locking the cross pieceand rest or support in their adjusted positions.

6. In a school desk, the combination of the sides, the front, thesliding top having the grooved cleats on which it slides, and the meansfor preventing the sliding top from coming in contact with the front ofthe desk when pushed up, consisting of the transversely mountedspring-controlled catches to be projected from the inside of its cleatsand adapted to engage with stops in the sides of the desk.

7. In a school desk, the combination of the sides, the front, thesliding top having the grooved cleats on which it slides, the means forpreventing the sliding top from coming in contact with the front of thedesk when pushed up, consisting of the spring-controlled catches on theinside of its cleats adapted to engage 8. I11 a school desk, thecombination of the sides, the front, the sliding top of the desk havingthe grooved cleats, the grooves a in the tops of the sides of the desk,the spring controlled catches in the cleats of the sliding top engagingsaid grooves, whereby the upward and outward limits of the sliding topare controlled, and the socketed upper ends of said grooves for holdingthe sliding top up against accidental displacement.

9. A means for connecting the rear feet of a school desk to the floor,consisting of a casting forming the shoe, having means at each side forsecuring it to permanent screws, and a central opening bounded on oneside on top by a shoulder, and at the other side 011 top by anothershoulder and underneath having a recess, a flange on the side of thefoot adapted to enter the opening of a shoe and pass into the recess, ashoulder on the outer side of the foot, and a removable key or wedgedriven under the shoulder on the outer side of the foot, and against theshoulder on that side of the shoe.

10. A means for securing the desk to the floor consisting of shoes,those for the front feet being formed of castings, and having means forsecuring them to permanent screws, said shoes having a central openingwith a front shoulder on top and a recess underneath and a toe or flangeon the foot of the desk for entering the hole of the shoes and fittingin the recess under the shoulder thereof, and those for the rear feetconsisting of castings having means at each side for securing them topermanent screws, and a central opening bounded on one side 011 top by ashoulder, and at the other side 011 top by another shoulder, andunderneath having a recess, a flange on the side of the foot adapted toenter the openin g of a shoe and pass into the recess, a shoulder on theouter side of the foot, and a removable key or wedge driven under theshoulder on the outer side of the foot and against the shoulder on thatside of the shoe.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES BRUCE l()\V.Til 1.

\Vitnesses ROB. B. BARR, J AMES BROWNLIE.

